Archive of Our Own

Fourteen Years Ago

Johnny has no idea how he managed to convince his Mom to let him go to Motostoke and enter the Pokemon League at eleven years old. (It probably helps that Junmyeon sponsored him and promised her he'd keep an eye on Johnny. He still never thought she'd let him go—he was only eleven!)

Johnny takes the train with Junmyeon to Motostoke with only two Pokemon with him. The Pikachu that Junmyeon had gifted him a month prior, and his Mom's Rookidee. Not a great start, but Junmyeon teaches Johnny how to catch Pokemon before heading into the city centre and Stufful soon joins Johnny's team.

Motostoke is big compared to the small town Johnny's from. He's used to dirt roads and rocks, loads of grass and flowers, open skies, the sound of wild Pokemon heard in the distance. There are a lot more people in the city, thanks to the fact that everyone's there for the beginning of the Pokemon League this season. The first thing Johnny notices is that the air smells different here, and he's not quite sure if he likes it or not. It'll take some getting used to, at least.

Junmyeon gets Johnny signed up and checked into his hotel before he has to go his separate way. "Chores," he says, which makes Johnny completely uninterested in whatever it is he's going to do. Johnny promises he won't leave the city or get into trouble and that he's got his Pokemon with him in case anything happens.

(Johnny doesn't think he'll have to battle in the streets of Motostoke but he thinks the thought of it is pretty sweet. What better way to show off?)

With Pikachu perched on his shoulder, chattering about the sights around them, Johnny explores the unfamiliar and big city. He enters shops just to browse (he's an eleven year old who just got permission to have an allowance, he's not just gonna buy everything he sees, as much as he wants to!)

(Having a cooler uniform than everyone else would be sweet though.)

(Junmyeon's gonna get mad if he spends his money. He needs it for supplies.)

(Johnny exits before Pikachu can convince him to buy anything.)

Walking around, Johnny can almost spot anyone who's there to compete in the Pokemon League. They just have a certain look about them. It becomes a game between him and Pikachu, discreetly pointing out strangers on the sidewalks that they think they're gonna see the next day in the stadium.

"Her," Johnny nods his head to a woman with an Alcremie by her side. "She's definitely in the Pokemon League."

Pikachu tsks at him in her Pikachu way and shakes her head.

"What? You don't think so? She looks like she'd crush me, probably."

Pikachu chirps and brings Johnny's attention to a crowd of people gathered in a park. "Oh, you hit the jackpot, Pikachu! I'm sure those are all contestants! Let's go and see."

When Johnny approaches the crowd, he realizes they're standing in a circle around two kids, probably around Johnny's age who are definitely in the Pokemon League and are definitely already experienced with battling.

Not that Johnny isn't, he's had loads of practice with Junmyeon—who's amazing, but battling someone who isn't there to train you is... something else. Either way, Johnny wants to get a good look at his fellow competitors, so he manages to find a place where he can watch comfortably.

He can immediately tell that the two boys battling in the centre are friends from the way they smile slyly at each other while directing attacks. One has an Eevee while the other has a Budew, pretty evenly matched with no type advantage, Johnny notes. Eventually, the boy with the Budew wins and the crowd around them erupts into cheers. The boys share a hug (though the loser does clench his jaw a little bit) and they smile at each other before splitting apart.

"No matter how hard I train, Taeyong, you've always got luck on your side," The loser smirks and a Salandit crawls up his shoulder and neck and perches on his head. (Johnny feels bad calling him that but he doesn't know the guy's name! At least he learned the winner's name is Taeyong.)

"Luck? You know I train just as hard as you, Yuta." Taeyong laughs, bringing his Budew back into its Pokemon ball. "But I'll take the blessing. You know you could've used Salandit, right?"

Yuta purses his lips. "I know that. I was testing you."

"Sure."

Oh yeah, these two have years of playful bickering on their side, even if they're as young as Johnny. It intrigues him.

"Anyone else want a shot? Somebody take him down for me!" Yuta yells out to the crowd, hands out in offering.

Johnny had said he wasn't going to get into any street battling but c'mon, when else was he going to get a chance like this? He looks at Pikachu on his shoulder and she nods, face set, determined.

Johnny raises his hand and steps into the circle. "I'll give it a shot."

Yuta looks Johnny up and down, sizing him up, almost surprised that someone volunteered. They did give an intimidatingly good show. Johnny's just got more of an ego that makes him want to prove himself. (Also! Friends! How else is he gonna make them? Talking? Psh!)

"What's your name?" Yuta asks. Johnny can see his Salandit also sizing up Johnny's Pikachu, who's practically buzzing in return. Johnny can already feel the static of her excitement around him.

"Johnny," He smiles, friendly.

"Alright Johnny, give it a go then."

Johnny advances into the circle and faces Taeyong, who hasn't said anything yet, has just been looking at Johnny curiously. Johnny gets a little tingly from excitement—his first real Pokemon battle! He's gonna crush it! He's gonna be the champion!

(Don't judge an eleven year old boy trying to hype himself up.)

Taeyong approaches him with his hand out and a small smile. "Hi Johnny, I'm Taeyong. The other one is Yuta, since he didn't bother introducing himself."

"Nice to meet you," Johnny shakes his hand. Johnny's slightly longer and ganglier but they're still around the same size. "You're really good."

"Thank you!" Taeyong giggles. "Is that your Pikachu? Show me what you got!"

Johnny's hand tingles when Taeyong lets go and walks to the other side of the makeshift circle. Pikachu chirps in excitement and Johnny agrees with her, he already likes this Taeyong guy.

Taeyong brings out a new Pokemon from his team, Vulpix. Pikachu clambers off Johnny's shoulder (Johnny feels slight relief from having all that buzzing electricity farther away from him) and sits in front of him in ready position.

The crowd murmurs around him but Johnny doesn't pay attention. His eyes are only on Taeyong and his Vulpix, just like Junmyeon taught him. Taeyong's face is set, determined, but that friendliness never goes away. It's a little comforting, Johnny finds.

He vaguely hears Yuta counting down, only paying attention when he finally hears the word "Fight!"

"You got this Pikachu," Johnny whispers to his Pokemon under his breath before starting his plan of attack.

Johnny receives a scolding from Junmyeon for street battling but also praise for getting out there before the League starts. As confusing as it is, Johnny's pretty sure Junmyeon's proud of him, so that makes it okay. As long as he doesn't tell Johnny's Mom ‘cause she's gonna worry no matter what.

"So?" Junmyeon prompts after the long lecture. Johnny had stopped paying attention a while ago. "Are you gonna tell me who won?"

"Hm? Oh, Taeyong did," Johnny shrugs. "He's really good! Like, really good. I think he'd be a really good gym leader one day."

"You got stars in your eyes, Johnny." Junmyeon teases and Johnny frowns. He's just being honest! If anyone was going to beat him his first time battling, then he's glad it was Taeyong. He was really nice about it, and even gave him medicine to heal up Pikachu after! Taeyong's just nice, okay? Johnny's allowed to think about it!

"I do not," Johnny grumbles. Pikachu chirps at him in agreement with Junmyeon and Johnny sticks his tongue out.

Junmyeon laughs and slaps a hand on Johnny's shoulder. "This is just the beginning, Johnny. You've got an exciting road ahead of you."

Johnny's already ready to go in his uniform the next morning when he bounces his way to the registration desk. Junmyeon tells him he'll be in the crowd, watching the ceremony and bids him goodbye. Johnny bypasses the locker rooms as he doesn't need to change, and heads into the waiting room that's filled with people from all ages, all backgrounds. It's a little bit overwhelming, especially because he doesn't have Pikachu with him this time since they can't bring their Pokemon into the ceremony.

Johnny hesitates, not knowing where to go. He doesn't actually know anybody, really. He could make some friends, his Mom always told him he's good at that! Johnny spies a group of kids that also look his age so he decides to head over.

He ends up passing by them when he sees a figure hunched over on a bench behind them, chewing on his nails like his life depends on it.

Johnny stands in front of him. "Taeyong?"

Taeyong lifts his head, eyes wide. He gives Johnny a small smile when he realizes who it is, quickly taking his fingers out of his mouth. "Hey."

Johnny decides to sit beside him. The bench is a little shaky. "Hey. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Taeyong nods but his arms start to hug himself. It's very different from the manner he conducted himself the day before. "I'm fine!"

Johnny stares, not believing him.

Finally, Taeyong cracks, letting his fingers make their way back to his mouth so he can keep biting his nails. "I'm just a little nervous." Johnny notices that it's Taeyong's leg bouncing that's shaking the bench.

"Why?"

Taeyong shrugs. "There's just... a lot of people gonna be watching, I dunno."

Johnny thinks about the Motostoke stadium and how big it looks on the outside, how big it looks on TV. It's gonna be filled with people just to see them! It is a little nerve-wracking, but Johnny doesn't think it's anything to be afraid of.

Johnny thinks quietly of what he wants to say to make Taeyong feel better. "My mentor taught me to only concentrate on your opponent and to drown everyone else out so they don't distract you." He reaches over, gently tugging Taeyong's hand out of his mouth and rests it on his lap, where he intertwines their fingers together tightly. Taeyong's hand is a little wet from him biting his fingers, but Johnny doesn't mind. "I mean, we aren’t actually battling anyone just yet, but if you get nervous while we're out there, look at me, 'kay?"

Something in Taeyong's shoulders seems to relax as he watches Johnny with his big eyes in wonder. Is this what Junmyeon meant by stars in your eyes? Johnny thinks to himself. He squeezes their hands when Taeyong doesn't respond and Taeyong blinks before smiling, a real, full smile before squeezing back.

"Thank you," he whispers, sounding embarrassed. Johnny doesn't think it's embarrassing to be nervous, just like how it shouldn't be embarrassing to lose if you give a good fight. "I think you're gonna do really well, Johnny."

"Thank you," Johnny preens a little bit. Taeyong may have beat him yesterday but it feels good for someone as cool as Taeyong to compliment Johnny. "You're really, really good! Are you better around smaller crowds then, like yesterday?"

Taeyong nods and lifts his hand up, as if to start biting his nails again but he can't when Johnny's got a strong hold on it. Taeyong smiles at their hands before responding. "Yeah, Yuta and I battle a lot like that in our hometown so it wasn't anything new—this is all new though, the big city stuff. Very new."

Johnny squeezes their hands again. "You got this. Where is Yuta anyway?"

"He went to the bathroom. Oh, there he is!" Taeyong stands up and Johnny's forced to stand up with him as now it's Taeyong who won't let go. "Yuta!"

Yuta spots them and heads over, smiling, seemingly brighter and friendlier than he was yesterday. "Hey, Johnny! Excited?"

"Yeah!" Johnny's quick to adapt, though he is surprised. "You?"

"Of course, can't wait to be on TV! There's gonna be so many people watching!"

Johnny feels Taeyong's hand stiffen but it stays intertwined with his. Yuta gives their hands a quick glance before the entire room is called to attention, as it's time for the ceremony to start.

Johnny gently pulls Taeyong with him, whose face is slowly morphing into the definition of terrified as they are taken into the dark tunnel that leads into the stadium. They can hear the rumble of the crowd now.

It's hard to see the faces of people around him but Johnny holds onto Taeyong's hand firmly, using his free one to tap Taeyong's nose then tap his own. "Look at me," he whispers, so no one else can overhear. "Okay?"

Taeyong nods, staring only at Johnny. Johnny walks out backwards onto the stadium with the entire group of competitors and he doesn't stop looking at Taeyong until Taeyong ventures a look at the thousands of people in the crowd and slowly starts to smile.

"You hear that?" Yuta nudges them both. "They're all cheering for us."

Johnny lets himself look around, finally, letting the cheers wash over him, squinting at the stadium lights pointed at them, feeling the rumble of the music playing in his bones. He looks back to Taeyong, eyes wild and excited and for some reason, it makes his new friend giggle.

This is just the beginning, Johnny. Junmyeon's words echo in his head. You've got an exciting road ahead of you.

"Pokemon trainers and enthusiasts!" The announcer bellows and somehow the cheers get even louder. "Welcome to this year’s opening ceremony of Pokemon League!"

Present

Johnny greets Yuta with a slap on his back and a friendly pat on top of his Salazzle's head. He then nods to Doyoung before sitting across the two at the table. Pikachu climbs off Johnny's shoulders and sits in the empty chair beside him.

"It's been a while, huh?" Yuta smiles and kicks Johnny from underneath the table. "But you're still the exact same."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Johnny grumbles, a contrasting grin spreading across his own face. "You watch my matches, right?"

Yuta scoffs at the same time Doyoung says, "Of course he does, he's never not watching either your matches or Taeyong's on TV."

"Don't tell him that," Yuta whines. "He'll think I care."

"To be fair, Taeyong's matches are a lot more exciting than mine." Johnny points out. "Where is he, anyway?"

Doyoung looks around the restaurant they're in and Johnny finally notices the tiny Cleffa in his lap. He coos at her and she chirps back happily at him. Doyoung strokes her gently with his thumb when his attention returns back to Johnny. "Probably late, you know what it's like when you're Champion and famous."

Technically, Johnny doesn't, because he's never been Champion, has never gone up for the battle that might grant him the title, but he's fine with that. He's got a mild-sized fan club just from being someone who's gotten so far and been in the Pokemon League for so long. He'd taken over the fairy specialty gym in Ballonlea for a little bit but that meant he wasn't able to battle with Pikachu anymore so he stopped after a while. He very much liked being his own challenge when League competitors thought they could take him and he also spent a lot of time mentoring younger competitors.

(Johnny hardly ever lost. He's not bragging, it's just what it is. It's why people discuss why he hasn't gone for the title of Champion yet. He hears whispers that it's because he's afraid of Taeyong but he laughs at those. That was far from the reason why.)

"Speaking of Taeyong," Yuta puts his hand out, palm up as if Johnny's supposed to give him something.

Johnny stares at Yuta's hand, then at Yuta. "What?"

"When are you gonna tell us you're in love with him?" Doyoung deadpans and Johnny chokes on air.

"When are you gonna tell him you're in love with him?" Yuta adds and Johnny hits his chest with his fist as he coughs, trying to regain composure. Pikachu stares at him, offering no comfort whatsoever.

"What's that face for?" he asks her and all he gets is a montone "pika," in response. Johnny scoffs and turns back to the two in front of him. "I'm not... I'm not in love with Taeyong."

It’s a lie, but he’s sticking with it for now.

"Oh come on," Yuta groans and Salazzle looks as unamused as he does. Johnny thinks being teamed up on like this is unfair. "You two have been tiptoeing around this for years! Since we were eleven? Like, just kiss already."

Johnny's ready to keep denying it but Yuta's words take him a little off guard and he hesitates. Doyoung catches it immediately and he narrows his eyes.

"Uh, well..." Johnny says dumbly.

"No," Yuta gasps as if scandalized, even though this is what he wanted. "You guys haven't kissed already, no you haven't—"

"We were like, sixteen! Seventeen?" Johnny wracks his brain. It's not something he'd forget easily (he thinks about it a lot, maybe) but the details have kind of blurred over the years. It was before a gym challenge, he remembers that. He remembers the way his heart pounded, too. "It's not a big deal!"

"Not a big—Not a big deal?!" Yuta looks like a cross between horrified and angry and Johnny's very confused by this reaction. Doyoung just shakes his head, disappointed. Yuta continues to hiss at Johnny. "And you guys didn't even tell me? I'm taking both of you out of the will. The daycare is going to Jeno now, neither of you get it when I die from this."

"I'm sorry?" Johnny offers an empty apology. "I thought the daycare was always going to Jeno."

"It is," Doyoung confirms. "He's just being dramatic."

"You don't look very happy with me either." Johnny points out. Actually, the only one not looking at him like he'd just shown them a bad grade on an important exam (or if you're Yuta, like he murdered someone) is Cleffa, who's too busy chirping at something behind Doyoung to be paying attention. Even Johnny's Pikachu is shaking her head at him.

"I'm not happy with you." Doyoung assures him.

"Why aren't we happy with Johnny?" A voice cuts in and Johnny freezes. Cleffa chirps happily as Taeyong reaches down and tickles her head.

There's silence for a second, not too long but bordering on suspicious. Doyoung recovers first. "Because he still hasn't challenged you as Champion yet. I mean, even if you don't think you’ll win, at least try."

Johnny lets out a silent sigh in relief but still manages to shoot a glare at Doyoung. This was not what he would've chosen to change the subject to, but it's better than what they were talking about before. (Yuta still looks like he might attack Johnny at any moment but he's slowly calming down.)

"I agree," Taeyong says. "Can I sit here?" He asks Pikachu who nods, letting Taeyong sit, then very pointedly settling into his lap. Johnny doesn't appreciate it.

Taeyong continues while he strokes the top of Pikachu's head. "I've been Champion for three years now and you still haven't challenged me!" He playfully nudges closer and puts a hand on Johnny's thigh. "You afraid of me? Are the rumors true?"

the touch burns into him. Johnny scoffs and pretends he's fine (he's not). "You shouldn't listen to whispers like that, Taeyongie." He sees both Doyoung and Yuta raise their brows at the affectionate nickname, which Johnny ignores.

"Then tell me why you don't wanna come out and beat me!"

"We've been through this before," Johnny groans. "There's no chance—I've never beaten you in my life! You're unbeatable." Johnny doesn't actually mind that but really, what are the odds of him finally doing it after he's been served loss after loss against Taeyong for fourteen years? It's not the sole reason he won't do it, but it's one of them. Johnny likes a challenge but he won't go into something knowing it's impossible.

"I'm not!" Taeyong insists.

"You've been Champion for three years, Taeyong." Yuta points out. "That means no one's beaten you in three years."

Taeyong falters. "Okay but—a lot of people are Champion for a long time! Boa was Champion for like thirteen years!—still—listen! You're at almost all my matches Johnny, you of all people should know exactly how me and my Pokemon battle by now. I haven't been able to watch a match of yours in years. There's a clear advantage here!"

Johnny raises a playful brow at him. "So you think I can only beat you if I have an advantage? Not on an even playing field?"

Taeyong removes his hand from Johnny's thigh to slap it. Johnny flinches (and he's also pretty relieved because his heart rate slowly goes back to normal now that it's gone). "That's not what I meant."

If Johnny thought he was safe from unwarranted reactions from himself, then he was dead wrong. Taeyong reaches over, taking Johnny's hand in his. Johnny jumps in surprise, hitting one of his knees on the table and eyes snapping to his hand in Taeyong's lap, with Taeyong's fingers stroking over the skin by his thumb as if to soothe him. It doesn't help because it's Taeyong that makes him react like this, but it wasn't like Taeyong knew that (and Johnny wasn't about to tell him).

Johnny stares at their hands (because he's trying not to look at Doyoung's damned raised eyebrows again) and he's amazed at how much they've both grown. Granted, they're both twenty-five now and when they met they were eleven, so it makes sense, but he's still surprised when his own hand seems to swallow Taeyong's when Taeyong plays with Johnny's fingers.

"You're a really good trainer, Johnny. I've known it since we were kids and I know it's still true now, right?" he nudges Pikachu, who nods and wags her tail (nice to know she does come to his defense sometimes, even when he doesn't want her to). "Please, I want to have a match with you and battle like old times! It'll be so much fun! Please?"

Johnny looks into Taeyong's eyes, wide and pleading but also determined to win him over. Johnny sighs because when has he ever been able to say no to Taeyong? "Fine," he admits defeat. "I'll challenge you some time, I promise."

Taeyong squeezes Johnny's hand with both of his and straightens up, excited. He leans very close to Johnny and practically wiggles in excitement. "Yeah? Really? Within the year, Johnny. You have to promise to challenge me within the year."

Johnny gulps because Taeyong knows exactly how to get his pulse racing, even if he doesn't realize it. He sighs again, just to make it dramatic because his favourite pastime has always been to tease. "Fine, fine. I promise I'll challenge you within the year."

"Finally!" Taeyong exclaims and wraps his arms around Johnny's neck, hugging him tightly. Johnny reciprocates, wrapping an arm around Taeyong's waist, unable to contain his smile. He may not want to actually challenge Taeyong but he always wants to make him happy. He spies Pikachu giving him a look that he ignores until there's a cough from across the table.

They let go to face Doyoung and Yuta, who both have their arms crossed over their chests.

"Get a room," Yuta grumbles. Johnny laughs to cover up his growing blush and asks when the hell their waiter is going to attend to them.

Fourteen Years Ago

Johnny wasn't sure if he was supposed to start his journey alone or with friends—Junmyeon didn't really explain that part when he said he was 'letting his young child go off into the big world on his own' while trying not to cry. He's pretty sure Junmyeon's allowed to go with him but it's just highly discouraged because how else is Johnny supposed to learn and grow on his own with his Pokemon?

Nobody said anything about traveling with other competitors though! So Johnny finds himself marching along with both Taeyong and Yuta, on their way to the first gym challenge of the Pokemon League.

"Are you gonna go straight to the gym first?" Johnny asks one night while they're camping. "Or are you guys gonna do some of those prelim matches first to start training?"

"I wanna train first," Yuta replies while tossing his Eevee a berry. Salandit sits on top of his head, as always. "Get my name out there, beat as many people as possible, you know the drill."

Johnny chuckles and turns to Taeyong, who's still eating the curry they made earlier. "Taeyong?"

"I think I'm gonna go to the gym first. Even if I don't beat it right away, I'll at least know what I'm up against. And you need all the gym badges to become Champion, so being famous doesn't really matter to me," Taeyong smiles at his Purrloin, who rubs against his leg. He's the only one out of the three of them who actually has a full team already.

"You don't wanna try and be Champion, Yuta?" Johnny asks.

"Only so I can challenge Taeyong one day. For us to battle in that big Wyndon stadium with the whole world watching, that would be so wicked. After that," Yuta shrugs, tossing another berry to Eevee. "Maybe I'll work at a daycare or something. I just want to be a high ranking trainer and retire from the League before kids start beating me."

"Sounds like you've got everything figured out already."

"He does," Taeyong laughs. "He thinks about this stuff even more than me!"

"Oh, so you're a sap!" Johnny teases.

"I'm not a sap! You're a sap!"

Johnny laughs as Yuta attacks him playfully. He's already gotten comfortable with his new friends. He makes sure to message his Mom before bed that night, telling her that he's fine and that yes, he's already having lots of fun and he's glad she let him do this. She responds that she's proud of him and Johnny goes to sleep in his tent with a smile on his face.

Johnny hasn't quite decided if he wants to go straight for the gym or try to get his name out there like Yuta yet, but he decides to follow Taeyong when he and Yuta split paths in Turffield.

Johnny watches Taeyong sign up at the registration desk, showing off his competitor badge that they all got at the opening ceremony.

"They start younger and younger each year," the man at the desk observes them both, seemingly grumbling to himself.

"My challenge is tomorrow," Taeyong tells Johnny as he leads them out of the stadium. "What do you want to do until then?"

"We could train!" Johnny suggests. "You could practice kicking my butt so you can kick the gym leader's tomorrow!"

Taeyong laughs and grabs Johnny's wrist, pulling him away from the town centre and into the hills. "Let's go find somewhere then!"

Taeyong kicks Johnny's butt multiple times, but that's exactly what Johnny expected would happen. He came close once, but Taeyong was really good at countering his attacks. By mid-afternoon, they were all tuckered out and lying on a patch of grass, looking into the sky. All their Pokemon are out of their Pokeballs and snoozing not too far away.

"We should camp here tonight," Johnny says absentmindedly. "I bet the stars will be really nice at night."

Taeyong hums before he sits up, tucking his knees into his chest. "Hey, Johnny?" he sounds hesitant.

"Yeah?"

"You're really good, you know that? Like, at battling," Johnny looks at Taeyong, noticing that he's started to nibble at his fingernails. "I just wanted to tell you. I don't want you to get discouraged just because I keep beating you… that's not fair."

Johnny sits up and knocks their shoulders together, so Taeyong doesn't feel as bad. "It's fine, I told you to kick my butt, didn't I? I'd rather lose to you every time than lose to a bunch of different people. Besides, you've got that talent they talk about in the Championships all the time. When you're famous I get to say that my first battle ever was with you! Like, that's awesome!"

Taeyong chuckles and hides his reddening face in his arms. "Would it be better if I let you win sometimes?"

Johnny turns to him, face serious. "Don't you ever let me win on purpose. Okay? As long as we're friends, you're not allowed to ever go easy on me. Promise." Johnny sticks his pinky finger out.

Taeyong pouts to try and hide his smile but it's useless as he offers out his own pinky and they link them together. "I promise."

"Cool. Let's go get Yuta before he gets into trouble."

Johnny and Yuta sit front row in the Turffield stadium, where the competitors are allowed to watch their peers.

"You think he's gonna be alright?" Johnny asks, resting his arms on the railing in front of them.

"Dunno," Yuta shrugs, joining him. "I hope so. There's a lot of people here, huh?"

Johnny nods, looking around at them. Everyone in this giant space, just to see someone try to get a badge. He thinks it's amazing on one hand, on the other, he's worried for Taeyong.

He knows he's starting to come out on the field when the crowd starts cheering. The announcer bellows Taeyong's name and Johnny and Yuta cheer as loud as they possibly can.

Taeyong's a little ways away from them, but Johnny can see him looking around frantically at the crowd as he approaches the middle of the field with the gym leader. Something drops in Johnny's stomach because if Taeyong decides he can't do this all because of his nervousness, then he's gonna be so disappointed in himself.

"Taeyong!" Johnny shouts his name and waves as hard as he can to get Taeyong's attention. Taeyong freezes before shaking hands with the gym leader and that's when he looks over, straight at Johnny who gives him the biggest cheer he possibly can.

He can't tell if Taeyong smiles or not but something in his posture relaxes a bit. He shakes hands with the gym leader and they retreat to their designated sides on the field.

The battle begins and Johnny's enraptured with the way Taeyong works with his Pokemon. There are moments when Taeyong looks over (a lot of moments, actually. Shouldn't he be looking at his opponent?) and Johnny tries not to look away, only because it makes him feel like he's been caught staring even though he's literally supposed to be watching.

"He keeps looking over at you," Yuta comments halfway through. "Did you two get psychic or something and didn't tell me?"

Johnny shrugs. "I dunno. Maybe he just wants to make sure that we're looking."

"What else are we gonna look at? The grass?" Yuta scoffs and Johnny has to admit he has a point.

It's a close battle but Taeyong eventually pulls through victorious, which actually makes him one of the few eleven year olds to beat the gym on their first try. Johnny claps so hard he thinks his hands might fall off.

The stadium roars with applause and Taeyong looks straight at Yuta and Johnny before the two remind him he should bow. Taeyong nods and bows and practically scurries off the field. Johnny and Yuta bolt out of their seats in order to get to the lobby to greet him before the rest of the stadium starts leaving.

They both tackle him into a big hug the moment they see him. "You did it! You did it!" Yuta screams into Taeyong's ear who winces and groans at their rough handling.

Johnny laughs until they all calm down. "How was it? How do you feel?" He puts an arm around Taeyong's shoulders and Yuta does the same thing on the other side as they walk out of the stadium lobby.

"I thought I was gonna die," Taeyong winces when the sun hits his face. "There were so many people!"

"Yeah, but you did amazing!" Yuta's still screaming, which hurts both Johnny and Taeyong's ears. "Show us your badge!"

Taeyong stops them all from walking and pulls out the badge from the pocket of his shorts and shows it to them.

"Wow," Johnny exhales. "Can't wait to get mine too!"

"Are you gonna wait for us while we get ours or are you gonna head to the second gym already?" Yuta asks, continuing their walk back to their campsite.

"I'm gonna wait, of course!" Taeyong almost sounds offended. "I don't want to do this alone, and I don't wanna do it without you guys either!"

"Awe, Taeyong," Johnny pouts. He hears Yuta scoff.

"And you said I was the sap, ha!"

"No, but really," Taeyong stops them again, looking at them both seriously. "Can we all promise to stick together, even if one of us gets stuck at a gym or something?"

Johnny sticks his pinky finger out. "I promise."

Taeyong links their pinkies then looks at Yuta, who rolls his eyes before offering up his own pinky with a smile. "Fine, I promise too."

They somehow find a way to link all three of their pinkies together before laughing and finally heading back to their campsite.

Six Years Ago

"Johnny!" Johnny's Mom envelops him into a bear-like hug the moment he walks through the door and doesn't let go of him. He doesn't really blame her, it's been a while since the last time he was home. He probably should've visited earlier.

"How's my little Pokemon Trainer doing?" She rubs his back affectionately, though Johnny is far from little anymore and has still sprouted up a couple of inches since last time despite being nineteen. "Where are your friends? Taeyong and Yuta?"

Johnny gives her a faint smile when she pulls back from their hug to look at him. "It's just me this time Ma." She sees right through him, but she decides not to ask, which Johnny appreciates.

"Let me cook you something, dear. Tell me about your adventures, okay?"

Johnny lives in relative peace with his mom for a few days before she decides to bring up the subject of his friends again, though she does it quite discreetly.

"I've taped all your matches, did you want to rewatch one of your gym challenges?"

"Not really," Johnny groans because yeah, maybe monitoring yourself is good but it's still embarrassing to see yourself on camera and then thinking about all the people that might've been watching through the TV and not just in person at the stadium. Johnny shudders at the thought. "But you're gonna show them to me anyway, right?"

"Right!" Johnny's mom exclaims happily, turning the TV on. "Here, this one's my favourite!" She sits down on the couch beside Johnny, who tries not to shrink into a ball when he sees his fourteen year old self walk out onto the stadium field of Motostoke.

"Mom," he groans because out of all gyms, he really didn't want to look back on his attempts at completing the Motostoke gym challenge. He remembers a lot of crying, though he can't recall if he cried during one of the matches, he doesn't really want to find out again. "No, not this one, why this one? Ugh."

"Don't cover your eyes, dear. You'll see why this is my favourite! Get your hands away from your face, Johnny."

Johnny doesn't listen but watches through his fingers, groaning the entire time.

"Shush, dear. Listen to the commentators."

Johnny's still a Mama's boy, so he listens.

"And here we have John Suh, onto his fourth try at the Motostoke gym challenge. I believe it's the second time this month, isn't it, Baekhyun?"

"That's right Chen! It's quite a fast comeback compared to most cool-down periods. It's obvious that he's very determined to win this time around. All the best to him! I had a really hard time with the Motostoke challenge and I was older than he was."

"There's a lot of younger kids doing really well these days! Despite his setback at this stage, John Suh is definitely one of them. For the audience watching at home, those are his two friends the cameras just showed, Taeyong Lee and Yuta Nakamoto."

"Very supportive friends, aren't they, Chen? They both have their badges already but they've stayed here in Motostoke to support each other! Now that's what the Pokemon League spirit is all about!"

Johnny's mom makes a point in pausing the TV and looking at her son.

Johnny sighs. "We're not like, fighting or anything. We just... grew apart. Went separate ways. Life happens, you know?"

She raises a brow at him and Johnny sighs again. "Besides, it hasn't been the three of us since we were sixteen. Doyoung joined us for a while and then he and Yuta split off to do their own thing. It's just been Taeyong and me until..." Johnny starts to falter.

"Until?" His mom prompts, resting a gentle hand on his knee and giving him that motherly comfort he missed so much.

He covers his face with his hands. "It's embarrassing."

His mom reaches over to pry them off. "I'm your Mom. Trust me, I've seen you do the most embarrassing things you've ever done in your life."

Which really doesn't make Johnny feel any better. "Thanks, I think? I just..." Johnny curls in on himself, hugging his arms to his chest. "I felt like I was holding Taeyong back. We parted ways around the sixth gym, when I got stuck, and he and everyone else kept going. I might've... I might've yelled at him..."

Johnny looks at the paused TV. The scene that was on was a split-screen, showing Johnny on the field and Taeyong and Yuta in the stands, watching. Johnny feels his eyes start to well up and he blinks them frantically, looking anywhere else but the TV or his mom.

"Why did you yell at him, honey?"

Johnny's mouth becomes distorted, trying so hard to keep his tears inside. "Because I knew he wouldn't have left if I told him to." His voice cracks.

"And then you were hurt when he really did leave?"

"I left first. I hurt him first." Johnny shakes his head, takes a breath and that's when the tears start falling down. "It's so stupid, Ma. I'm so stupid."

"It's not stupid, honey. You did what you thought would be good for Taeyong, right? You thought he would be better if you weren't there? But I also don't think you really were thinking about Taeyong, were you?"

Johnny shakes his head again because no, after thinking about it for so long, after being on his own for the first time since he was eleven, Johnny knows he'd been selfish. He'd seen Taeyong with his new friends, friends that were good and famous like Taeyong was becoming and he'd gotten jealous and probably ruined one of the best friendships he'd ever had, regardless of his other feelings.

"You didn't ruin anything, okay? You might've damaged it a little but with the way you two were with each other Johnny, I don't think this is something that reaching out to him won't fix. Apologize, tell him how you feel."

Johnny ignores the fact that his mom can probably guess that he feels something a little more than just friendship with Taeyong. "I don't think I deserve that, Ma. Not after what I did to him."

"Nonsense!" She slaps him on the arm. "Don't think so lowly of yourself like that, Johnny. You're in the top twenty-five youngest high-ranking Pokemon trainers in the region, you're an amazing boy and an amazing friend. We don't always get it right the first time. Just like a gym challenge."

Even if it's coming from his mom, it still feels nice. Johnny manages to smile.

"C'mon," His Mom nudges him up to get off the couch. "Let's go for a walk with your Pokemon. It's been a while since I've seen my little Corvisquire spread out his wings!"

"Oh, he's a Corviknight now, Ma. You should see him!"

"Well, show me!"

Several weeks pass by as Johnny stays with his mom. It's a nice break, really, it's what he needed but if he's going to keep up his ranking and get all the gym badges, he should probably be training for the seventh gym in Spikemuth. He should've gotten it earlier but he'd just... lost his motivation at that point since he'd been alone. Yuta had offered to come with but Johnny didn't know if he knew he and Taeyong had fought so he didn't want to make a statement or unintentionally have Yuta be on 'his side' (even though he knew he was in the wrong).

He'd been planning to have a mini-training session in his backyard when he noticed his Corviknight was missing. He hadn't been keeping them in their Pokeballs, obviously (because no one was cruel enough to do that) but usually they didn't leave the house unless with either Johnny or his mom. Come to think of it, he's pretty sure he hasn't seen Corviknight in a couple of days.

"Ma?" Johnny goes into the kitchen from the backyard. "Have you seen Corviknight? You didn't send him to get a job as a taxi, did you?"

His mom laughs. "Of course not, honey. I sent him on a little errand, though, he should be back soon. Are you getting back into training?"

Johnny can't really complain because Corviknight was his mom's Pokemon when he was a little Rookidee, so she's allowed to send him off on errands if she wants. "Yeah, I guess I'll just start a little without him."

Johnny probably should've thought a little more about what kind of errand his mom needed exactly, but he doesn't realize anything is up until she's out one day and someone knocks on the door in the morning.

Pikachu prods Johnny's face to wake him up.

"If it's the mailman he can just leave it at the door." Johnny groans. Pikachu presses onto his face harder. Johnny ignores her until he slowly feels the buzz of electricity around him. He bolts up off his bed. "Okay! Okay! I'm up! Sheesh, can't believe you were about to thunderbolt me out of bed again."

Pikachu chirps at him and follows him down the stairs as Johnny makes his way to the door. He opens it up haphazardly, eyes still adjusting as he wakes up. He first sees his Corviknight, sitting on his front lawn. He then registers the man in front of him, shoulders hiked up, timid. Johnny thinks his heart stops completely.

"Hi," Taeyong's lips pull up into a shy smile.

"Hi," Johnny breathes. Pikachu practically screeches at the sight of Taeyong and climbs up his legs to nuzzle her face into his neck. It breaks Taeyong out of his bashful stance and he giggles and strokes her affectionately.

Johnny suddenly feels self-conscious, standing in front of Taeyong in his pajamas and bedhead even though Taeyong's seen him way worse over the time they'd spent together. Johnny shoves a hand into his hair and hopes for the best when he tries to tame it down.

"I-uh, what are you doing here?" He manages to ask.

"Uhm, your Corviknight," Taeyong points behind him to Corviknight, who looks a little too smug as he preens his feathers. "He came and got me so uh... I'm here."

"You're here," Johnny breathes deeply as if he still can't believe it. Then it hits him. "Wait, Corviknight? My mom—oh my god," the hand in his hair falls to his face and Johnny tries not to scream.

"Did your... mom send Corviknight?"

Johnny sighs, dragging his hand along his face before deciding to open the door wider. "Yeah, she did. God. Uhm, did you—did you want to come in?"

Taeyong hesitates at the door before he nods and walks in with determined steps. "It's been a while since I've been here."

Johnny shuts the door behind him, but not before giving a glare out to Corviknight, who ignores him. "Yeah, it was a while since I've been here too. Ma's just happy I'm here now though, you know? Though I think she's trying to kick me out."

Taeyong chuckles a little and that manages to lift Johnny's heart just a bit, making him feel better about this whole thing.

"Uhm, did you want something to drink? I think we still have some of Ma's homemade iced tea in the fridge."

"Yeah, sure, that'd be great."

Johnny shoves his head into the fridge and gets out the pitcher of iced tea, praying his fumbling hands don't drop anything. Taeyong looks just as nervous or unsure as Johnny feels. He stands in the kitchen, playing with the sleeves of his sweater, looking around like it's the first time he's ever been in Johnny's house.

Johnny hands him a glass of iced tea and Taeyong thanks him. They each take a sip and stand there awkwardly. Pikachu's already dozing off on Taeyong's shoulder.

Johnny's had a lot of time to think about what he'd say to Taeyong if he saw him again. His mind races every night and yet, with Taeyong standing in front of him for the first time in months, Johnny's mind goes absolutely blank.

It ends up being Taeyong who breaks their silence first. "So uhm, when Corviknight came and got me I was actually, uh—I was actually looking for you."

"You were looking for me?" Johnny repeats, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, I was, uhm, asking around. I messaged Yuta but he didn't even know we weren't with each other so," Taeyong shrugs, taking another sip. "I just wanted to see where you were at, with the gym challenge and all."

"Oh," Johnny nods. "I, uhm, haven't even done the seventh yet. Kind of took a break. Explored around, came home. You know."

"Ah," is all Taeyong says before silence falls over them again.

Johnny's the one determined to break it first this time. "And what about you? Have you finished yet?"

"No, I actually—I haven't done the eighth yet. I've been waiting."

That has Johnny a little curious. Taeyong could've been on the way to Champion by now if he'd kept going. Johnny tilts his head. "For?"

Taeyong purses his lips before thinning them out as if debating on whether or not he should say whatever it is he wants to say. "You," he finally admits after a while. "I've been waiting for you."

Johnny, dumbstruck, only blinks at him and asks, "why?"

Taeyong sighs and all the tension leaves his shoulders as if something finally unlocks within him. "Because it's not the same without you, Johnny. You said it would be better if we went separate ways, if I went off with these people that only wanted to be friends because we were all 'famous'—ou said I didn't need you anymore. You said you didn't need me either. It was the worst time I've ever had, Johnny. The only reason I got through the seventh gym was because I thought about seeing you again at the eighth and punching you."

"Taeyong—"

"When you didn't show up I went looking for you. I ditched those 'friends' before we even got to the seventh gym, Johnny. I did it alone. I could keep going too but I realized that I don't want to. Yeah, maybe we don't need each other, but I don't want to do it without you. We promised."

Johnny's voice is small when he says, "I don't want to do it without you either."

This takes Taeyong by surprise, maybe he'd been expecting Johnny to get angry or something. He stands there and Johnny approaches cautiously as if he might scare the other away if he moves too quickly.

"The sixth gym was so hard all by myself and after that I lost all motivation to even try the seventh. I'm so stupid for doing that to you Taeyong, for telling you all those things that weren't true. I hated seeing you with those guys and I hated feeling left out, and feeling like I wasn't good enough. I'm stupid, selfish, jealous, and I'm sorry.” 

Taeyong frowns, then takes the sleeping Pikachu off his shoulder and delicately places her on the table before slamming himself into Johnny's chest, arms wrapping around his waist. "You're better than good enough, stupid," Johnny hears him mutter. "Why did you have to grow so much taller than me. Stupid."

Johnny manages to laugh before wrapping his arms around Taeyong's shoulders and hugging him tightly. "I missed you too, Taeyongie."

He gets squeezed harder at the mention of the nickname. Johnny only hopes Taeyong can't hear how loudly his heart is pounding. “Can you forgive me? It’s okay if you can’t, I just want to know how I can make it up to you—”

When they separate, Taeyong points a finger straight into Johnny's chest. “First of all, you owe me so many battles. I'm gonna kick your ass so many times, John Suh. Then we're going to go to Spikemuth and you're going to get your seventh gym badge."

Johnny grins despite the pain of Taeyong's finger digging into his skin. Or maybe that's his heart giving out or something, he doesn't know. "And after?"

"After," Taeyong jabs him for good measure. "We're both gonna go to Hammerlocke and we're going to finish the gym challenge, together, then you’re going to forgive yourself. Yuta said he might join us but I wrote him off our 'stay together' promise when he fell in love with Doyoung, so. He's excused."

At that, Johnny's smile falters. He takes Taeyong's hand on his chest and holds it gently. "I'm sorry for breaking that promise."

Taeyong's fierceness dials down, his shoulders slumping. "I broke it too. I shouldn't have let us keep going when you hadn't gotten your gym badge yet. I'm sorry." He sticks his pinky finger out on his free hand. "Promise renewal? We stay together. We don't leave the other behind."

Johnny hooks their pinkies together and then pulls Taeyong into a hug again, because he missed Taeyong so, so much. "Thanks for the second chance."

Twelve Years Ago

Johnny finds it a little ironic that he spent so much time paying attention to the trainers in the Pokemon League when he was little, knowing their names, stats, Pokemon—yet he still finds it surprising when in the middle of journeying to the third gym, they get recognized by some kids at a park they pass by.

"Hey, aren't those guys the youngest trainers in the Pokemon League to get their first badges so quickly?"

"Only one of them got his quickly, idiot. The other two are his friends."

Johnny sees Yuta grimace out of the corner of his eye. Taeyong puts a hand on his shoulder and urges them to continue on.

"Taeyong Lee, right? I heard Boa herself sponsored him!"

"Yeah, but isn't that kind of unfair? I heard she's the one who gave him his Dreepy. I think it's cheating to have an advantage like that."

Both Johnny and Yuta stop in their tracks while Taeyong hesitates, head drooping forward because he didn't want them to stop.

"Excuse me?" Yuta calls out to the kids first. They look up, surprised. They don't look much younger than Johnny and his friends. "You know we can hear you right? Didn't your parents tell you it's rude to gossip?"

Some of the kids cower while one of them—the one who'd been saying the bad things about Taeyong, raises his chin at them. "Weren't you told it's against the rules to cheat?"

"Guys," Taeyong pleads quietly, holding onto both their sleeves. "Can we just go?"

Normally, Johnny would abide by Taeyong's request but this did not sit well with him.

"Taeyong's good at battling because he's talented, because he's practiced, because he's beat our butts into the ground so many times—not because he has a Pokemon not everyone has!"

The kid just shrugs and rolls his eyes. "Whatever."

Yuta makes a move to advance but Johnny grabs onto his forearm and pulls him back. Johnny turns to Taeyong. "You good to battle right now?"

Taeyong blinks, eyes wide. "Johnny, we're not battling some kids!"

"Not them, you and me!" Johnny gets ahold of one of his Pokeballs and calls out Goomy. Taeyong stares at the Pokemon before he finally seems to get it. He sighs but he still ends up calling out Dreepy.

Johnny turns to the boy and points a finger at him. "One, we're gonna show you the best battle you've ever seen and two, Taeyong's gonna show you that even with two dragon types against each other, Taeyong is clearly the better of both of us."

"Johnny..." Taeyong doesn't look too happy, probably because he knows Goomy is weaker anyway, but Johnny dismisses him because even if he can't change this kid's mind, he's gonna show them the three of them aren't meant to be messed with and that you shouldn't just call someone you don't know mean names!

"Let's do this, Goomy." Johnny smirks.

"It's true, what he said," Taeyong starts suddenly. All three of them are lying on the grass at night with their Pokemon, looking up at the stars. It's one of Johnny's favourite things to do. "Boa did give me my Dreepy."

"Yeah, but it's not like you asked or begged her for one," Yuta scoffs. "She chose you and wanted to gift that Dreepy to you because you're good enough to take care of one."

"I had no idea you guys even knew Boa," Johnny says in awe. "I remember watching the match where she became Champion right when I woke up in the morning when I was like, nine." He spares a glance over to Taeyong, who he can see eyeing him worriedly as if Johnny might judge him. "Knowing that she sponsored you just makes me certain you're gonna be the next Champion. My eyes don't lie, I see talent—also I trust Boa, so."

Taeyong rolls his eyes and turns his face back to the night sky but Johnny can see the smile starting to spread over his lips.

"You know, you're getting really good too, Johnny," Yuta comments. "I was almost scared for a second there, I thought you might beat Taeyong and then not prove our point."

Johnny laughs. "Can you imagine? The one time I win against Taeyong is the one time I'm trying to prove a point that he's gonna beat me."

"I mean, that way I know you're not just throwing the fight." It's a throwaway comment from Taeyong but it makes Johnny frown and he turns his entire body towards him.

"Remember when we met and we promised you'd never go easy on me?" Johnny holds his pinky out. "I'm gonna do the same. I promise to never go easy on you too. I'll never throw a battle with you, Taeyong."

Taeyong smiles, linking their pinkies just as Yuta comments, "You two sure have a lot of promises together, how are you gonna keep track of them all?"

"That's not true!" Taeyong protests. "We have like, three now? And one of them is a threeway with you!"

Johnny turns his body towards Yuta, wrapping his arms around Yuta's shoulders and curling in overtop of him as Yuta squirms. "He's just sad he doesn't have as many promises! You want more promises, Yuta?"

Yuta whines, trying to escape Johnny's grasp to no avail. "No! More than one promise is too much responsibility! I don't know how you guys are gonna do it without breaking at least one."

"We're committed!" Taeyong protests. Johnny continues to squeeze Yuta.

"I think the word you're looking for is betrothed." He manages to gasp out.

Johnny lets go immediately. "We're not getting married!" He humphs and crosses his arms over his chest, looking back up into the sky. "We're thirteen!"

"Doesn't mean it can't happen later," Yuta grunts. "God, you almost killed me."

"You're just being dramatic," Taeyong laughs. Johnny swears he feels something touch his pinky, but it's gone too fast to be sure about it.

Present 

"Johnny! Johnny!"

Johnny's exiting the cafe in Motostoke when two of the trainers he mentors run up to him.

"Johnny! I heard you're gonna challenge Champion Taeyong Lee to a battle!" Chenle shrieks so loudly Johnny's pretty sure the entire city knows now—if they didn't already.

"Are you gonna beat him? He won't be Champion anymore?" Jisung pouts. "I like him! He's a cool Champion!"

"But if Johnny becomes Champion then we can say we're trained by the Champion himself! Wouldn't that be cool, Jisung?" Chenle's eyes sparkle and Johnny can only chuckle at the two. Easily his most eager trainers but also the ones that cause the most trouble. He has a feeling he'll be helping them out in sticky situations when they're older. Just a gut feeling.

"Calm down guys, the battle hasn't happened yet, we don't know if I'll beat him—"

"Are you gonna get us front-row seats?"

"Only Pokemon League Competitors get the front-row—"

"Second-row, then?"

"Chenle." Johnny warns, though he's affectionate in the way he ruffles the young boy's hair.

"Is it true you and the Champion used to know each other, Johnny?" Jisung perks up, eyes wide in wonder. For as long as Johnny's known him, Jisung's always idolized Taeyong since he became Champion. It's the spark Johnny recognized in him right away.

"Used to, we still do!" At Johnny's words, Chenle and Jisung look at each other excitedly. "I just talked with him the other day when he asked me to battle with him."

"He asked you? Whoa," Jisung looks a little dazed, like this new information hit him a little too quickly.

"See, it's almost like we're being mentored by the Champion! They know each other!" Chenle chirps and Johnny doesn’t know if he finds that offensive or not.

"How about, when you two get home, you go and watch old runs of Taeyong's gym challenges? You'll see me in the crowd in almost all of them."

"Whoa," Jisung repeats and Chenle squeals, "That's so cool! But wait, even if you do become Champion will you still bring us to the opening ceremony this year like you promised?" 

“Will you still do it even if you’re not Champion?” Jisung adds in and Johnny has to admit they’ve gotten really good at their puppy dog eyes.

“Yes, of course I will. No matter what.” 

Chenle and Jisung were still too young to enter the Pokemon League (not only that, they were also not ready training wise) but they talked about seeing the opening ceremony every year to welcome the new additions to the Pokemon League. Even if they weren’t going to be in it, Johnny still wanted to let them see it from the spectator side at least once.

They scurry off, happy with his answer and eager to watch their mentor be related to the Champion in some way (Johnny still hasn't decided if he's offended yet but the kids are really too pure—so he shrugs it off).

"So, what the kids are saying really is true." Johnny turns to see Taeil, leaning casually on a tree, with Johnny's Pikachu on top of his head. "You've finally decided to do it."

Johnny sighs, approaching his friend and poking Pikachu's nose. "Stop making it sound so serious."

"I'm sorry, I seem to recall Pikachu telling me that you told her that the day you challenge Taeyong to a Champion battle would be the day you tell him you're—"

Johnny smacks a hand to Taeil's mouth to shush him. Taeil raises his brows, not surprised that Johnny did it but offended that he did. Johnny just doesn't want anyone overhearing because if there's one thing he knew—rumours spread fast and he did not want Taeyong hearing that one.

It's Pikachu who lifts Johnny's hand off Taeil's mouth with a smug look on her face that says 'I told you so'.

"So... you're not going to tell him, then?" Taeil probes and Johnny only sighs because he doesn't know! He has no idea what he's gonna do and that terrifies him more than the battle between him and Taeyong that literally millions of people are going to watch and analyze.
 
"I don't know, I don't know!" Johnny runs a hand through his hair. For once, Pikachu actually looks sad for him. While he appreciates her sympathy he also thinks that now is not the time. "I don't know what I'm gonna do."
 
"Just tell him," Taeil shakes his head with Pikachu holding onto his hair. He seems to have forgotten she was up there. "Whoops, sorry Pi. Johnny, just tell him. Or just wait until the battle is over, no matter who wins or loses and say whatever it is you feel in that moment, okay? Though that doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on you as the Hammerlocke gym leader just so you can get there."
 
Pikachu climbs over to Johnny's shoulder, a little dazed. Johnny just sighs again when Taeil gives him a big hopeful smile. "No promises, but... I'll see."
 
"You know I'm always right!"
 
"No, Doyoung's always right."
 
"And didn't Doyoung tell you the same thing?"
 
Johnny stays silent. It's an answer in itself.
 
"Exactly. My point stands."
 
No longer wanting a part of this reality check (why are his friends always doing this to him? Can't he just live in peace?) Johnny sighs for the millionth time (even he's tired of doing it) and doesn't even bid Taeil a farewell when he leaves him by the tree.
 
(He can see Pikachu waving from his peripheral though. Johnny never gets to make the dramatic exits he wants to when she's there.)

Nine Years Ago

"Do you think we're gonna make it?" Taeyong checks his watch and Johnny tsks at him.

"Of course we are."

"It starts in a couple of hours..."

"We're gonna make it."

"I don't know..."

"I'm sorry," Yuta gasps dramatically. "I didn't know getting the fourth badge would be that hard! I'm sorry I'm gonna make us late!"

"We're not gonna be late!" Johnny assures him. They're waiting for the train to Motostoke, bouncing off the adrenaline of Yuta finally getting his fourth gym badge. Taeyong and Johnny had already gotten theirs, so they waited for him, of course.

And just like every year, they wanted to watch the opening ceremony for the Pokemon League in person. It was always nice to see what new competition you might have, as some people tended to drop off after a few years of going at it.

Taeyong, Johnny, and Yuta were all sixteen now, had just made it to the halfway mark with their gym badges, and were not planning on stopping.

The whistle of the approaching train didn't help their excited bouncing. When it starts to arrive into the station, Yuta freezes.

"Oh my god. Do you think Doyoung's gonna be there?"

"Didn't you invite him?" Taeyong asks.

Johnny nods. "He did."

"Oh god." Yuta's hands frantically run through his hair, knocking a sleeping Salandit awake, who huffs at the rude awakening. Yuta ignores her. "Is my hair okay? How do I look?"

"Like a totally cool, awesome fourth gym badge-haver." Johnny says without looking at him. Pikachu chirps from where she perches on Johnny's shoulder in agreement.

This, apparently, satisfies Yuta enough. "Nice." He winces in pain when Salandit bites his ear for being woken up, but is otherwise unbothered. Taeyong just shakes his head while his Larvitar amuses itself by running between Taeyong's legs, excited for her first time on the train since Taeyong had added her to his team roster.

They make it to Motostoke with minutes to spare. A gangly boy stands in front of the stadium, arms crossed over his chest and one foot tapping impatiently.

"Finally!" He grunts when he sees the three trainers. "You're late!"

"It hasn't started yet!" Johnny argues even though they're all jogging to get there. Yuta looks like he might slow down and properly say hi to Doyoung (or something stupid, he does that a lot) but Doyoung just grabs Yuta's wrist and pulls him along.

"C'mon, Taeil's saving our seats for us!"

Johnny and Taeyong hang back just a little, and Johnny leans down to whisper in Taeyong's ear so Doyoung and Yuta can't hear. "How long do you think he's gonna go on about that for later?"

Taeyong chuckles. "Forever. Can't wait!"

Johnny's eyes linger maybe a little suspiciously too long on Taeyong's face. In his defense, it's a nice face! Taeyong's also nicely grown into his limbs whereas Johnny just feels like a skinny awkward Sudowoodo.

Taeyong’s attractiveness is something that Johnny can’t quite get out of his head, not even while watching the opening ceremony. Has Taeyong always been attractive? Did Johnny only just notice now or has it…?

Well, Johnny’s always liked Taeyong, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t mean he likes him!

Taeyong put his hand on Johnny’s thigh and Johnny stops breathing.

“God, remember when we were here as kids? I’m so glad you came and challenged me in that battle right before, Johnny!”

Taeyong says it every year, at every opening ceremony, like he can’t believe he’s lucky enough to have found Johnny along with having Yuta. With Johnny’s new thoughts bouncing off in his head he turns a bright red and mutters something that sounds like “yeah, can’t believe…”

Luckily, Taeyong doesn’t seem to notice anything off.

All five of them walk out after the ceremony is over. Johnny can vaguely hear them talking about some of the trainers, but he stays quiet, his mind… occupied.

“I have a training session, so I’ll see you guys later!” Taeil waves as he leaves. Probably to go see his mentor, Yunho, who Johnny hasn’t met but he’s very much aware of his legendary Pokemon League Trainer status.

“So uhm, Doyoung and I are going, uhm,” Yuta is as bright red as Johnny feels. It takes him a second to see that he and Doyoung are holding hands. “To the cafe, so I’ll, uh, catch up with you guys later?”

“Oh, sounds fun!” Taeyong exclaims and then links his arm with Johnny’s. “Let’s leave them to their date and have our own, Johnny.”

“Right. Seeya.” Johnny practically squeaks. He lets Taeyong pull him away the opposite direction that Yuta and Doyoung go in, and though he’s very familiar with nervous butterflies before a battle, these ones feel different. He does his best to push them aside.

Eight Years Ago

By the time they get to the fifth gym, it's just Johnny and Taeyong. Yuta and Doyoung have gone off onto their own adventure (Johnny thinks he wouldn't be surprised even if they went and got secretly married or something), so that leaves just Johnny and Taeyong on their Pokemon League journey.

Which would be all fine and dandy if Johnny hadn't gone and—well, he wouldn't say love. Deep, deep like maybe. He likes Taeyong a whoooooole lot.

(Those butterflies he first got all those months ago? Yeah, they still haven't gone away.)

They spend a lot of time in Ballonlea, and though Johnny misses the sun, since it doesn't reach the town inside the dark dense forest, the glowing pink, blue, and green mushrooms still hold the same wonder from the first time he saw them. He and Taeyong both give the fifth gym a shot, the fairy-type gym, and they both fail.

It's not surprising, for Johnny at least, he's used to getting it on the second try mainly. First try is to see what he's up against. And when he gets his fairy badge the second try and Taeyong doesn't—that's when things start to seem unusual.

"I hate everyone who's ever called me a child prodigy ever," Taeyong grumbles into his pillow. They've been staying in a tiny cottage in the town for months now.

"You just turned seventeen last month, you're still a child."

"Just not a prodigy."

Johnny hates seeing Taeyong like this. Their whole lives have been commented on by millions of people watching the Pokemon League standings, year after year. Their self-worth feels like it's based off of how well they do—and how badly too. They haven't listened to any broadcast since Taeyong's failed first-run, just as a rule.

Johnny reaches over from his own bed, and takes Taeyong's hand in his. He sees Taeyong peek out from the lumps of his pillows and Johnny attempts to swallow his butterflies so he can actually talk. "No matter what, you'll always be my favourite trainer."

He's not sure if it's the right thing to say, but it gets Taeyong to smile and squirm a bit, so Johnny's satisfied.

"You're so cheesy when you look at me like that!"

Johnny drops Taeyong's hand (totally nonchalant and cool. Totally). "I'm being honest!" Now it's his turn to hide his face. He rolls over so he's turned away from Taeyong.

"I know. You've always helped me believe in myself," quietly, Taeyong adds, "thank you, Johnny."

Johnny thinks he might have a heart attack.

Taeyong trains like crazy for his third shot at the Ballonlea gym challenge. Johnny helps him and of course, doesn't even think about going onto the sixth gym without him because they made a promise. (Also because then he'd be alone, and that's breaking another promise.)

When it comes time to face the gym again, Taeyong can't bring himself to go in. They stand in the lobby of the stadium and Taeyong chews on his fingernails. Johnny hasn't seen him this nervous since they went to their own opening ceremony six years ago.

"Hey," Johnny squeezes Taeyong's hand. "You're gonna do great, okay? And remember to look at me if you get too nervous." 

Taeyong pulls Johnny into a hug and shoves his face into his shoulder. "I'm already too nervous." He mumbles. Johnny holds him, tries to do his best to comfort him and also hopes that Taeyong won't notice how hard his heart is beating in his chest.

Johnny runs his fingers through Taeyong's hair. He hopes it's encouraging. Taeyong looks up at him and Johnny's breath catches in his throat.

Taeyong steps away, which Johnny is both sad and grateful for. He's still close though, and Taeyong is all that he can see.

"Can I... try something? To get rid of my nerves, if you don't mind?" 

"Sure, yeah, of course," anything for you. Johnny doesn't know what Taeyong's thinking and sure enough, his mind goes blank when Taeyong cups his cheeks and presses their lips together.

Johnny's so shocked he barely has time to react, to even register what just happen when Taeyong pulls away and breathes "for good luck!" before running through the gym challenger doors and away from Johnny.

The man at the registration desk has to clear his throat for Johnny to realize he's still standing in the lobby. Like a zombie, he heads into the stadium and grabs a front-row seat reserved for the Pokemon League trainers to sit and watch a match.

Johnny's not really sure he watches the battle in its entirety. Sure, he watches Taeyong the entire time, cheers at the right moments but he still feels—well, off balance. Every time Taeyong looks at him from where he battles, Johnny feels like he's been electrocuted by one of Pikachu's thunderbolts. 

Taeyong ends up getting the fairy badge, because of course he does. He's the best trainer Johnny's ever known. When they meet in the lobby Taeyong rushes into his arms and Johnny lifts him up and twirls him around.

"I knew you'd do it!" Johnny grins and Taeyong's eyes practically sparkle when Johnny puts him down.

They stare at each other. Johnny clears his throat to keep himself consciously breathing.

"So, Circhester?" It's the location of the sixth gym and very much not what Johnny had been wanting to ask. So, about that kiss...?

"Right," Taeyong blinks and nods, looking around as if to remember where they were. "Off to Circhester."

Present

Johnny sits in his waiting room in Wyndon Stadium, hunched over and toying with his fingers. It's been a few months since he agreed to challenge Taeyong and registered his name in the Champion Cup. He won't be the only person going for Taeyong's spot, but he's the contender most anticipated and most talked about, considering his and Taeyong's long and public friendship.

He'll have to get through several other contenders, plus some gym leaders. He'll have to face Taeil, and Johnny has no doubt he'll be even harder on him (to prove Johnny's determination or whatever, he stopped listening to that monologue when Taeil first gave it to him). Then he'll get to Taeyong and they'll battle.

He's always loved dueling it out with Taeyong, but the thought of doing it now makes his insides twist. Those battles were always for fun—this one means something.

Johnny once considered throwing it, but he pushed that out of his mind quickly. Taeyong would never talk to him again. They will both give it their all, and then they'll see who will come out on top. No matter the outcome, Johnny knew what he'd have to do after.

He thought of that first day he met Taeyong and Yuta, out in the park in Motostoke. It was Johnny's first battle and he'd gotten his butt wiped by Taeyong in front of a crowd. It had been great. This was battle was kind of like that now, only with a crowd a thousand times bigger. It isn't that he's afraid of getting wiped out by his best friend in front of millions, Johnny knows he's proved himself as a force to be reckoned with as a Pokemon trainer—it's what comes after. 

He was going to give Taeyong the epic battle they'd always talked about, and then, he'd finally tell Taeyong how he felt.

It was something he could avoid doing until the last minute. And he did, for a while.

But now it's the last minute.

Johnny's never been more nervous for anything in his life. 

"You okay?"

Johnny's head snaps up and he sees Taeyong in his gear, leaning in the entryway of the waiting room. Johnny's heart swells.

"I've probably been better."

Taeyong hums and sits next to him on the bench. He takes one of Johnny's hands and holds it onto his own chest. Johnny can feel Taeyong's heart thumping wildly and his own mirrors it. "Me too," Taeyong smiles.

"Three years of being Champion and you still get nervous?"

Taeyong nods and smiles. He intertwines their fingers and holds Johnny's hand on his knee. "You'll make it to me, right? You'll make sure to get to me?"

"Taeyong, you're doubting my abilities now?" Johnny jokes, light for his own sanity.

"I'm not! I just want to make sure it's you I go up against."

They sit there for a while, listening to the distant cheers and announcement voices.

"It's almost time." Johnny doesn't mean for it to come out in a whisper.

Taeyong gives Johnny his hand back and pats his knee. Johnny immediately misses the feeling. Taeyong then leans over and kisses Johnny's cheek.

"For good luck," he says with a small smile. He gets up to leave, but turns back around at the entrance. "I won't go easy on you."

Johnny takes a deep breath and he starts to grin. "You better not."

Seven Years Ago

Would Johnny had left if Taeyong hadn't caught him packing up? Johnny will never know. He zips his backpack up and whirls around to find Taeyong in the room, staring at him.

"Where are you going?" 

"I'm going back to Circhester." When Taeyong looks confused, Johnny reminds him, "Because I still haven't gotten my sixth gym badge yet and we're already on your way to you and your friends' seventh."

Taeyong's mouth opens and closes. He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I should've told them that we wait for each other—"

Johnny holds his hand up to stop him. He's made up his mind. Taeyong is obviously better off with other, better-skilled and more famous trainers like him, who also beat the Circhester gym in one shot. 

"I think we both know I'm holding you back." Was that even true? Johnny believes it to be. Taeyong's best shot at being Champion was with being with other people destined for greatness. They'd challenge him, make him even better. Johnny's just dead weight at this point.

"You know that's not true," Taeyong's voice cracks. For a horrifying moment Johnny thinks Taeyong might cry. He feels even more horrified when he realizes he might cry too. He knows Taeyong's not gonna go without a fight. 

"Johnny we promised to stay together," Taeyong is hurt and Johnny can't even look at him. "You promised."

Johnny's chest feels like it's caving in. This is what's best for Taeyong, this is how he'll thrive. Maybe Johnny can get to his level one day, and they can meet again on equal footing. Has it always been uneven like this?

"You don't need me," his voice comes out colder than he thought it would. He sees Pikachu, who'd been sat in the corner, sulking, flinch. "And I don't need you."

Taeyong gapes like he's just been stabbed. He looks like he might fall over, and Johnny knows he'd run over to catch him if he did. Taeyong doesn't know that though.

"What have they been telling you?" Taeyong's voice is the opposite of Johnny's. It wavers and breaks, just like Johnny's heart. "Who fed you those horrible things?"

Johnny shakes his head. "This is how I feel, and I'm leaving. It's what's best for the both of us." He tries not to think of the comments, of how he felt like he'd been dragged along the entire time with Taeyong's new group of friends. He'd tried, he'd really tried. He could see that it was them Taeyong needed, not him. He wasn't enough anymore. He wasn't sure if he could make Taeyong believe that, but he'd do whatever he could to make sure Taeyong got to his dream of being Champion, even if it hurt him.

I'm doing the right thing, he chants in his head. He doesn't even say goodbye, because if Taeyong went after him, Johnny's resolve might break. I'm doing the right thing.

The route back to Circhester is cold and lonely. Pikachu doesn't talk to him for days. Johnny starts to think he might deserve that.

Three Years Ago

A lot of trainers tend to drop off around the fifth or sixth gym. It takes years to complete all the gym badges, and if someone decides they don't want to be a Pokemon League trainer anymore (like Yuta and Doyoung, who dropped out to open their own Pokemon Daycare together) then they can drop out. That's what makes the people at the top so good, because they've been going at it forever and they want to be there.

Johnny's got all eight badges, and now he's a gym leader in Ballonlea, which means he's good, probably even better than the leader Taeyong had so much trouble against all those years ago. It's a fairy gym, which Johnny has his set team for. Unfortunately, it means Pikachu doesn't really get to flex her battling muscles anymore, so sometimes on days Johnny has off work, he battles his own Pokemon together and then makes them a giant curry all to share.

It's nice. His life is nice here. He likes Ballonlea, though just like when he was seventeen, he sometimes misses the sun.

There's an area he and his Pokemon like to hang out in the most that's behind the gym. It's a little deeper into the forest, where it's darker and the mushrooms glow even brighter. Johnny lies on his back while his Pokemon snooze around him after a day of playing. There are tiny glowing bugs flying in the air, and with the darkness of the forest, it reminds Johnny of the night skies he used to watch pass with Taeyong and Yuta.

A sweet aroma tickles Johnny's nose and it makes his stomach flip. It makes him feel homesick, even though he recognizes the rosey-scent that can come from Pokemon like Roselia and Roserade.

He knows a trainer with one of those Pokemon.

Johnny lifts his head up and sees a shadow approaching. Taeyong steps into the glowing light from the mushrooms and an easy smile spreads over Johnny's face.

"Hey."

"Hey," Taeyong lies down beside Johnny. "They told me I'd find you here. I thought this place made you miss the sun?"

"It does. But this reminds me of all our nights camping. And I like the fairy gym!"

Taeyong hums. Johnny looks over at him and Taeyong is staring up into the dark trees. They're twenty-two now, and Johnny and Taeyong have known each other for exactly half of their lives.

"Have you come to challenge my right as gym leader?" Johnny jokes, because he knows Taeyong would never do that. Taeyong laughs and shakes his head.

"No, I came to ask you something," Taeyong takes a deep breath and turns to look at Johnny. Johnny's heart skips a beat. "I'm ready. I'm going to challenge Boa."

Johnny snaps to sit up and some of his Pokemon stir and chirp at him in annoyance for making noise. "You're doing it?! You're gonna challenge her title for Champion!"

Taeyong looks up at Johnny with those big eyes of his, full of excitement and anxiousness. Johnny doesn't think Taeyong has anything to be worried about. He's been training constantly for years since he'd gotten his eighth badge which is why he didn't settle down to become the gym leader of any gym. He's ready and he's going to become Champion, Johnny already knows it.

"That's amazing," Johnny breathes. There's a twisting in his stomach. It makes him want to lean down and kiss Taeyong until he grins. He swallows down the feeling. It doesn't escape his mind that Ballonlea is the first and last place he and Taeyong kissed.

"Will you come watch?" 

"Of course I will!" Johnny pretends to be offended that Taeyong even had to ask. "I'll take a few days off and go there when it's time. You still have a couple more months to prep, yeah?"

Taeyong nods and Johnny gets up onto his feet, holding his hand out for Taeyong to take. "Let's start now then. You against me, like old times."

Johnny arrives in Wyndon practically buzzing. Or maybe that's Pikachu on his shoulder, he can't really tell when he's surrounded by all that electricity. He's only able to see Taeyong for a few minutes before the Champion Cup begins, but that's enough.

"You're gonna do it, Taeyong," Johnny claps a hand on Taeyong's shoulder. "I know you will."

Taeyong exhales into a smile. "Thanks."

Johnny leans down before he can think twice about it, and presses a kiss to Taeyong's cheek. "For good luck."

And then he leaves to his seat and doesn't say anything when Yuta asks why he's as red as a cherri berry.

Taeyong wins. Of course he does. Johnny always knew he would, and yet he still feels a sense of relief wash over him. Taeyong did it.

Johnny had run onto the field after Taeyong had won and he and Boa bowed to each other and shook hands, smiles on their faces. Then Johnny had tackled Taeyong into a hug and lifted him into the air.

He'd wanted to kiss him so, so badly, but there were millions of people watching, so he didn't. He'd held Taeyong up high for all the world to see. His best friend, Champion.

When Johnny watches the replay of it for the first time, it's hard not to blush. He also hadn't realized Yuta had followed him onto the field and had jumped on Johnny's back to hold onto Taeyong as well. They started it out the three of them, and there they were at Wyndon Stadium, with Taeyong becoming the Champion.

Horrifyingly, there's a closeup of Johnny and Yuta looking up at Taeyong. Yuta looks happy, eyes filled with joyful tears. Johnny has stars in his eyes and he looks—well, in love. All caught on camera.

"Pika." Pikachu chirps at him, as monotone as she can be. He only agreed to watch this over with her because she hadn't actually been able to see it in person, as other Pokemon weren't allowed in the stadium if they didn't belong to the trainers battling.

Johnny covers his face with his hands, embarrassed. "I know what it looks like, stop pointing it out."

Pikachu chirps again and pokes him with her paw.

"Of course I haven't told him."

Another poke.

"Stop."

A buzzing noise, and though Johnny's used to it, has spent years with Pikachu at his side, he still feels a little bit scared of those thunderbolts of hers. 

He turns to glare at her, arms crossed over his chest. "Really? You're threatening me?"

The buzzing gets louder.

Johnny sighs. "Fine! Fine, I'll tell him, I promise. Whenever I challenge him as Champion, after that, I'll do it."

That seems to satisfy her enough, so her buzzing subsides. Johnny squirms at the thought of confessing. It wasn't like he was going to challenge Taeyong right away though, he'll have time. He'll do it when he's ready.

However long that takes.

Present

A deafening roar fills Johnny's ears. There are flashes of light everywhere, blinding him to the crowd that surrounds them.

All he sees is Taeyong.

He looks so tiny across the stadium from Johnny. Taeyong's chest is heaving, and Johnny notices his own chest is too.

It's over.

He did it.

A weight lifts off Johnny's shoulders and relief washes through him as he takes his first step towards Taeyong. It's done, it's over. Johnny challenged Taeyong, battled him, and Taeyong won.

Johnny feels free.

He tries not to run to the middle of the stadium, but his pace is quicker than Taeyong's, so he has to wait a few moments before Taeyong meets him there. Johnny's buzzing and this time, it's not Pikachu.

Johnny sees worry in Taeyong's eyes as he stretches his hand out for the post-battle handshake and bow. Johnny takes it and pulls Taeyong into his chest for a hug.

Taeyong squeezes Johnny tightly. Maybe he'd thought Johnny would be upset if he'd lost? Johnny almost laughs to himself at that. Johnny never expected to win, Taeyong was too good, and Johnny's always been more than okay with that. It had always been the after that Johnny didn't like the idea of.

But now that it's over, now that he's lost, he feels as light as a feather.

"Thanks for not going easy on me," Johnny murmurs into Taeyong's hair.

Taeyong peels back from Johnny's chest to look up at him. He searches Johnny's face—for what, Johnny isn't sure, but when Taeyong opens his mouth and nothing comes out, Johnny knows exactly what to say.

"Taeyong," his arms are still around Taeyong's torso, not wanting to let go. "I love you. For a while. For a long time."

Taeyong's eyes fill with tears and his eyes dart to the crowd around them before landing back on Johnny. Johnny startles because that's the last thing he wanted to do—make Taeyong cry, make him anxious. He suddenly remembers the people, the cameras, the millions watching. All he'd seen was Taeyong.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think—all the people—" Johnny scrambles. Idiot, idiot, idiot! "I just promised myself I'd tell you. Hey, just look at me okay?"

But Taeyong surprises him, shaking his head and smiling. He doesn't look the least bit anxious, not like Johnny thought he was. Taeyong jabs a finger into Johnny's chest and says, "You idiot. Since we were eleven years old the only person I've been looking at is you."

Johnny's heart soars. He cups Taeyong's face in his hands and kisses him the way he's been wanting to for years.

The crowd's roaring gets even louder. Johnny swears he can hear Yuta in the midst of it all, screaming "finally!" at the top of his lungs.

Johnny kisses Taeyong again, because he can.

Thirteen Years Ago

Johnny and Taeyong are laying on the grass, watching the stars in the night sky twinkle above them. A light snore from Yuta can be heard from inside the tent they all share. He'd gone to bed a little while ago, but Johnny had wanted to stay out some more and Taeyong had stayed with him.

"Do you think," Taeyong breaks the peaceful silence eventually. His voice is soft. "That one of us will really become the Champion one day? Do you think we can do it?"

"Of course we can!" Johnny smiles. He can see it perfectly. "One day one of us will be Champion, and like Yuta said, we'll have this huge epic battle that millions of people will want to watch. It'll be legendary. An event that people will remember forever."

Taeyong giggles, because they're only just children, but they have big, big dreams. "You really think so?"

Johnny looks at Taeyong and reaches over to hold his hand. He squeezes it tightly. "I know so."

Taeyong smiles, and they both settle back to watch the stars and dream.